Letter on Witchcraft. 3li> 



coDi' union on y' man's part bee proved, then the Business 

 i)> done. 



1 am suspicious Lest y' Divel may at some time or other, 

 serve us a trick by his constancy for a long wliile in one 

 way of Dealing. Wee may find the Divel using one 

 constant course in Nineteen several Actions, and yett hee 

 bee too hard for us at last, if wee thence make a Rule to 

 form an Infallible Judgement of a Twentieth. It is o' sin- 

 gular Happiness That wee are blessed with Judges who 

 are Aware of this Danger. 



For my own part if the Holy God should permitt such a 

 Terrible calamity to befal myself as that a Spectre in my 

 Shape should so molest my neighbourhood, as that they 

 can have no quiet, altho' there should be no other Evidence 

 against me, I should very patiently submit unto a Judgment 

 of TyansportutioUf and all reasonable men would count 

 o' Judges to Act, as they are like y* Fathers of y' public, 

 in such a Judgment. What if such a Thing should be 

 ordered for those whose Guilt is more Dubious, and uncer- 

 tain, whose presence y' perpetuates y' miseries of o' suffer- 

 ers ? They would cleanse y" Land of Witchcrafts, and yett 

 also prevent y*" shedding of Innocent Blood, whereof some 

 are so apprehensive of Hazard. If o' Judges want any 

 Good Bottom, to act thus upon. You know, that besides 

 y* usual power of Govern", to Helax many Judgments of 

 Death, o' General Court can soon provide a law. 

 S', 



You see y* Incohercncy of my Thoughts but I hope, you 

 will also some Reastinableness in those Thoughts. 



In the year IG45, a Vast Number of persons in y' county 

 of StiJ'ol/i were apprehended, as Guilty of W itclicrart ; 

 whereof, some conlessed. The parlament granted u special 



